Bhujbal residence vandalised: Summons to 58 Sainiks

MUMBAI, MARCH 24: Nearly two years after leader of the opposition in the legislative council Chhagan Bhujbal’s official residence was vandalised, the police filed a chargesheet against 58 Shiv Sena activists on Monday. The case is scheduled for hearing on April 3, 1999.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate K H Holambe Patil at the 19th Esplanade Court issued summons to the accused charged under section 141, 143, 145, 149 and 452 of the IPC. The incident took place on July 13, 1997 when nearly 500-odd alleged Sena activists barged into Bhujbal’s residence at Madame Cama Road, opposite Mantralaya. After ransacking the place they allegedly took away a bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s and a life-size photograph. The mob also smashed the windscreen of Bhujbal’s car as they shouted slogans of down with lakhoba’. A First Information Report was filed at Cuffe Parade police station.

Among the accused are South Mumbai Shiv Sena vibhag pramukh Prakash Bhavad, MHADA president Vilas Avchat, Sena corporators Prakash Ahire, Surekha Godambe, Randhir Kopte, Dadar vibhag pramukh Vinod Khopkar and Sena activist Dattaram Gujar.

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The incident took place in spite of Special Branch (crime) warning the authorities about plans to attack Bhujbal’s residence. The activists successfully conducted their raids even as a strong police posse was posted for bandobast’.

The attack on Bhujbal’s residence followed his demand in the monsoon session of the legislature that the state government should step down taking responsibility for the firing at Ramabai Colony, Ghatkopar (E) on July 11, 1997. Eleven Dalits were killed in the police firing triggering off riots across the city.